Krahn cannot wait to seal European success
Friday, May 22, 2009
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Although FCR 2001 Duisburg lead Zvezda-2005 6-0 from their away first leg, with 22,000 tickets already sold for the home return, Annike Krahn told uefa.com: "It's motivation enough to play in front of so many people."
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FCR 2001 Duisburg may be 6-0 up going into the second leg of their UEFA Women's Cup final with Zvezda-2005 on Friday night but with at least 22,000 fans set to be at the city's main MSV Arena, defender Annike Krahn says they will not be taking it easy.
Big lead
Five second-half goals were the key to Duisburg opening up a trophy-winning lead in Russia last Saturday, putting Krahn and her team-mates within sight of lifting the cup in their debut European season. And 24-year-old Germany centre-back Krahn promised those who have bought tickets that they can expect a similar display, with no thoughts of saving energy for the must-win league game at FC Bayern München on Wednesday followed by the German Cup final against 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam in Berlin next weekend.
Crowd
"With a crowd of 22,000 coming just for us it's fabulous, you don't need extra motivation in such a situation," Krahn told uefa.com. "We are delighted to play, we still have to play the second leg. We are very happy to play in this stadium and it's motivation enough to play in front of so many people."
Wait over
Krahn has spent her entire senior career at Duisburg and on the eve of the first leg signed a new 12-month deal. She is yet to win a major honour at the club, finishing second four times in the league and also losing a German Cup final, so to be on the verge of the biggest club prize in the women's game is thrilling.
'A dream'
"We've worked for this for many years and now we have such a powerful team," Krahn said. "We have worked hard to earn such a prize, and been second so many times, so to get to the final at our first attempt is a dream for us. If someone had said before the tournament we'd get to the final, we'd have said they were crazy. It's gigantic."
On the attack
With that in mind, they intend to clinch the trophy in style. "We are going to play attacking football and will try to score more goals," Krahn said. "I don't think in a UEFA Women's Cup final and with such a crowd you ever go easy, at least not consciously. Maybe when you are tired it is a different story but we intend to give our all."
